Description:

Documents :
1. Will dated 17 July 1738 .
Beneficiaries: To his wife, Katherine, an annuity of £3 for her lifetime to be paid in 4 quarterly, equal payments, the first payment to be made 3 months after his death
To brother William Williams, an annuity of £6 to be paid similarly to his wife's and that his brother should 'take his maintenance and diet and all necessaries fitting for him with my kinsman William Beavan or with David Roberts….or with either of them whom he thinks fit to chuse and to make satisfaction for such his maintenance out of the said annual sum… and in default of kind and fair usage to settle himself where he thinks proper'.
To kinswoman, Mary, wife of James Watkins of Llangattock Cerrighwel, 50/-.
To Anne, wife of Phillip Harris, £5 and to her daughter Anne Harris, 40/-.
To Margery, wife of David Roberts £5 and to her son, Thomas Roberts, 50/-.
To Anne, wife of Rowland Lewis and to Mary, wife of James Parry, £5 each
To nephew, Joseph Williams, £5.
To godsons, Henry Howels and Thomas Gundy, £5 each. To goddaughter, Margaret Beavan, daughter of Thomas Beavan, 40/-. To goddaughter Edith, daughter of Uriah Davis, 20/-. To godson, John Johnson , 20/-. To goddaughter Isabel Mabe, 10/-.
To Anne, daughter of Abraham Price, 5/-
To the poor of Michaelchurch Eskley, not receiving a weekly allowance from the Parish, £5 'to be distributed among them in such manner as by the most substantial inhabitants of the said parish shall be thought needful and proper to be done in proportion to the needs or to what estate and condition such poor are or shall be thought to be in.'
To William Beavan and David Roberts all his personal estate and money due by bonds etc and all household goods and chattels except a bed and bedstead which is in the little parlour together with 3 pairs of sheets and a chair which together with £4 is to go to testator's wife Katherine.

Executors: William Beavan and David Roberts.

Marked by testator

Witnesses: Edward Thomas, Anne Pytt and Samuel Exton

Date of probate: 3 October 1738 .

2. Inventory: [plus copy] dated 23 July 1738 , value £323 7 2d. Appraisers William Perkins and Thomas Smith

Observations:

The will was contested by the testator's wife and there are statements from the witnesses to the will namely, Anne Pytt, 22,of Clodock, spinster , Samuel Exton, 40, of Michaelchurch Eskley, gent and Edward Thomas, 43, of Michaelchurch Eskley, esquire in the case of William Beavan and David Roberts v Catherine Williams in the matter of the probate of the will of John Williams, deceased .
5 documents, counting the allegation and depositions as one document [11 sheets in all].